All of the league’s coaches and players pose on a field in the James R. Bobbitt complex on opening day, April 7.
The Mantua Little League has moved beyond issues with participants a few seasons ago and has seen a gradual resurgence in players.
The league had struggled with gathering participants in the last 10 years, so much so that some seasons had to be cancelled entirely.
“The past 10 years or so, Mantua Little League did take some bumps,” said league president Jack Steen. “There was some fall seasons where we just couldn’t have enough kids out there to field … Within the past five years, the numbers dropped to below 100 participants total.”
Despite that, Steen – who took over as president in 2022 – has focused on building a sense of good sportsmanship and community pride in the players to make the league unique in district 15, the conference in which Mantua plays.
“We don’t have a lot of kids to put on the field at any given time,” he explained. “But we do build a sense of community and sportsmanship that we instill in these kids, and I think that is a unique thing.
“As you play kids throughout the district,” Steen added, “you get that sense that Mantua supports kids at different levels and even on different teams at the same level. We have kids who’ll watch other Mantua league games that they’re not even a part of. They’re just supporting their friends and family.”
Steen and the league’s board also hosted an inaugural fall festival last September as a way to further determine interest from players, and that in turn led to an increase in league numbers. According to Steen’s wife Nicole, the organization had 225 players and 600 others at its field in the James R. Bobbitt Complex on opening day, April 7.
“We had an amazing turnout; 225 players and their families came out,” she noted. “We had over 600 people at our complex with games running all day. Our league has grown so much and it’s such an amazing thing to witness.”
The league’s resurgence has also led to on-field success. In 2023, it won the Small-Town Tournament Coach Pitch Championship and had a playoff appearance in its majors league. Steen also credits the township committee and local businesses for helping the rebuilding process.
“I can’t be more thankful,” said Steen. “Especially for this season. The amount of support we get is really encouraging.”
“We’re excited about the season, and we anticipate some new champions in Mantua Township,” said Mayor Robert Zimmerman. “We look forward to potentially bringing those teams into the township committee meetings and honoring them like we’ve done in the past.”
Those interested in helping out Mantua Little League can contact the organization at mantualittleleague@gmail.com.
